“Are you ready for me to take your order? Or do you need another minute?” He asks brightly. I’m about to say a few more minutes as we haven’t even looked at the menu, when Tommy turns and answers him first.
“Yes please. Could we both have the bruschetta to start and spaghetti carbonara for our mains, to drink could we have a bottle of Whispering Angel and a bottle of water for thetable,” He asks, not even having to look. The girls had mentioned my love of carbonara but I hadn’t tried it yet.
“Of course. I’ll be over shortly with your drinks.”
“Thank you,” We both say.
“What was it you wanted to ask? I’m dying to know.”
But I’ve lost my courage, I swallowed the question, doubt taking over me. He must be able to read it on my face as he reaches across the table for my hand.
“Maya, you can ask me anything. I want to know everything about you.” The look of sincerity on his face convinces me to just do it.
“Were we a couple Tommy? Is that why I feel so comfortable around you?” I did it. I’ve finally asked the question that’s bugged me since I first laid eyes on him.
“Oh baby, we were so much more than that,” His lip lifts and he grins at me, the flirt even winks. I see behind the act he’s putting on though, I see it doesn’t reach his eyes. There’s a sadness there, lurking beneath it all. What kind of hell did I put him through?
“I’m so sorry. I wish I could offer you more, but I…”
“No,” he interrupts me. “How can you apologise for something that was completely out of your control? I’ve been hurting for a long time Maya. Needing you, fuck, craving you. but it’smore than that, we were more than that. One day I hope you remember it all, but for now, I’d want to just spend some time with you. I can only hope that one day, you will fall back in love with me.”
Wow. I loved him, and I can tell he loved or maybe even still does, love me. Just sitting with him here, admiring how handsome he is and how easy he is to talk to, I know that it wouldn’t be hard to fall for this man. If I’m lucky, maybe one day I can love him again.
“Baby, I don’t want to be the one to cause you tears,” His face looks pained. I didn’t even know I was crying.
Bloody hell, it’s all I’ve done today.
“It’s been an emotional day,” I offer him a sheepish smile. “You haven’t made me cry, I’m just a bit overwhelmed that’s all.”
“Well, let’s hope your next tears are over how good this food is,” He smiles at me briefly before his face drops, his eyes zeroing in on my arm. “Maya, what’s that?”
I follow his glare and notice four bruises, the size of fingertips on my arm.
Shit!
Do I tell him about Jack? I don’t want him to get the wrong idea about it. It’s not like I was ever going to date Jack, it was just someone to talk to. Deciding my best option was to tell a little white lie, I smile and wave him off.
“Oh it’s nothing, I fellover in my bedroom. Just me being clumsy,” I laugh, but even I could tell it sounded forced.
“Maya, who did this to you?” He insists, not about to let this drop anytime soon. Is it wrong that it’s turning me on a bit? I love this protective side of him.
“Listen, its nothing to worry about. It was just an accident,” I reply, pleading with him to just let it go. I don’t want to ruin our night.
“If someone has hurt you, I want you to tell me. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” He states, clearly not believing my bullshit.
“I know,” I reach over touching my fingers with his. “Stop worrying.”
Before he gets chance to say anything else, the waiter returns with our meals, thank god. Saved by bruschetta.
